Right-Click-Paste: Autism Day

Open a blank blog post and “right click paste” in the body of the post…what was pasted? Explain it.

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{When I clicked ‘Paste’, I hadn’t a clue as to what would show up. When I saw the results, I hesitated…but here goes.}

If you’ve been anywhere near Facebook today (Wednesday), you know it’s World Autism Awareness Day, part of Autism Awareness month. Wear blue today to show your support! (Although seeing as I’m typing this as 9:25pm Pacific time, never mind. Wear blue whenever. Be supportive in other ways.)

I don’t have much to say on the subject that hasn’t already been said. The above quote comes from a HuffPost article I shared on Facebook. It’s a nice jumble of thoughts about autism from those who have it and those parent kids with autism.

I’m feeling kind of odd about the whole thing these days. We’re in limbo, waiting for one piece of paperwork to be completed, before we receive final results from a woman who will tell us whether or not Nicky can officially be placed on the Spectrum. It’s been a long process. I’m not sure I would have balked quite so much at ten-month waiting lists when Nicky was four. Then again, maybe I would have. It just feels so much more urgent now, considering his age, and ever since Asperger Syndrome was explained to us in detail, beyond the stereotypes. It was overwhelming, all that emotion and new knowledge.

Except for Nicky. For Nicky, it was instant clarity. He sat at the kitchen table and knew he was hearing his truth.

He may have grown an inch or two since this was taken. He keeps doing that.

Our young man turned 14 last week. He is getting ready to enter high school, practicing for state tests, preparing for the End Of Course exam in Algebra, perfecting a brass duet for Solo & Ensemble Day, scootering in the cul-de-sac with his brother and the neighbor kids, playing intramural dodgeball, reading To Kill a Mockingbird (for Language Arts) and Little House on the Prairie (for fun, because his mom convinced him he’d enjoy it), and wondering if the psychologist is going to confirm what he knows without question: that he’s an Asperkid.

(Okay, fine, that he has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Not supposed to use “Aspergers” in a clinical setting anymore, but we all still know it, right?)

So, although I have dear friends and many acquaintances who have kids on the spectrum, this year, World Autism Awareness Day feels different. I feel “between” it, although I can’t really explain what it could possibly mean to be between a single day/event/observation. I’m neither in the thick of it nor outside it. I am Schrodinger’s Cat.

I’ve never been wary of labels for Nicky. Labels are words that get him what he needs. This label simply happens to be one I never considered until fifteen months ago. It’s right, though. We can feel it.

2 Responses to Right-Click-Paste: Autism Day

Powerful. Timely. Heartfelt. Thank you, thank you for sharing. You have a handsome, smart son. And your writing is beautiful: “I’ve never been wary of labels for Nicky. Labels are words that get him what he needs.”Leigh blogged this: I’ve Got Crabs